Share

Jobs not jets - Maimane

Johannesburg - DA leader Mmusi Maimane marched to ANC headquarters on Thursday to demand that plans to buy a R4 billion presidential jet be scrapped.

“With R4bn we could pay for over 160 000 one-year internships for young South Africans," he said, adding that R4bn could also go towards paying for more than 600 000 Expanded Public Works Programme work opportunities.

He went to Luthuli House in central Johannesburg to hand over a list of demands.

ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the DA’s action showed it believed the ANC could solve people’s problems.

"Whatever confusion they have, we welcome that the DA recognises that the only party that can resolve problems in the country is the ANC. They are welcome to come back again and we will address their problems, as we do in the country," he said.

“This is not an ANC jet. It's a state decision and we draw the line between the party and the state," he told News24. 

Maimane said the party wanted to send a clear message to Zuma's ANC that, "We want jobs not jets."

He said as had happened with the arms deal, large procurement projects came with inflated prices and corruption.

“We know what President Jacob Zuma wants. ‎He wants us to pay for a big fancy jet to match his big fancy luxury home that we have already paid for," he said.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said in Parliament in May that buying the new jet seemed unavoidable.

"There is no way right now the defence force can avoid buying a VVIP (jet)," she said.

She said Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa had, several times this year, been left stranded or been late for events due to the presidential Boeing 737 breaking down.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 557 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 801 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.87
+0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.85
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.38
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE